Th e WTO/UNEP report on “T rade and Climate Change”  
published today examines the intersections between trade and climate change from four perspectives: the science of climate 
change; economics; multilateral eff  orts to tackle climate change; 
and national climate change policies and their eff  ect on trade.
Th e WTO and UNEP are partners in the pursuit of sustainable 
development and this report is the outcome of collaborative research between the WTO and UNEP . 
“With a challenge of this magnitude, multilateral cooperation is crucial and a successful conclusion to the ongoing climate change negotiations is the fi  rst step to achieving sustainable development 
for future generations,” said WTO Director General Pascal Lamy and UNEP’s Executive Director Achim Steiner. 
Both Steiner and Lamy urge the international community to seal an equitable and decisive deal at the crucial UN climate convention meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 2009. Th  ey also urge nations to conclude the Doha 
trade round which includes opening trade in environmental goods and services, a complementary track towards reducing 
greenhouse gas emissions to scientifi  cally-defensible levels.
Th e scientifi  c evidence is now clear that the Earth’s climate system 
is warming as a result of greenhouse gas emissions which are still increasing worldwide, and will continue to increase over the coming decades unless there are signifi  cant changes to current 
laws, policies and actions. Although freer trade could lead to increased CO
2 emissions as a result of raising economic activity, it 
can also help alleviate climate change, for instance by  increasing 
the diff  usion of adaptation and mitigation technologies.
Th e global economy is expected to be aff  ected by climate 
change. Sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fi  sheries, tourism 
and transport infrastructure which are critical for developing countries are more specifi  cally aff  ected. Th  ese impacts will often 
have implications for trade. Trade and environmentPRESS RELEASE
PRESS/559
26 June 2009
(09-3115)
WTO and UNEP launch a report explaining for the fi  rst time 
the connections between trade and climate change
The world cannot continue with “business as usual” and there is a profound need for a successful conclusion to the current negotiations on both climate change and trade opening. Opening up trade and combating climate change can be mutually 
supportive towards realizing a low carbon economy, the new report says. Contrary to some claims, trade and trade opening can have a positive impact on emissions of greenhouse gases in a variety of ways including accelerating the transfer of clean technology and the opportunity for developing economies to adapt those technologies to local circumstances. Rising incomes, linked with trade opening can also change social dynamics and 
aspirations with wealthier societies having the opportunity to demand higher environmental standards including ones on greenhouse gas emissions. In addition there is evidence that more open trade together with actions to combat climate change can catalyze global innovation including new products and processes that can stimulate new clean tech businesses.
National policies, from traditional regulatory instruments to 
economic incentives and fi  nancial measures, have been used in 
a number of countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to increase energy effi   ciency. Th  e report highlights the eff  ects 
that this complex web of measures might have on international trade and the multilateral trading system. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of technical requirements (voluntary 
standards and labelling) related to climate-friendly goods and energy effi   ciency. Likewise, fi  nancial support programmes for 
the use of renewable energies have also increased recently. 
Th e report also reviews extensively two particular types of pricing 
mechanisms that have been used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: taxes and emissions trading systems. Incidentally, the report refl  ects the debate that is taking place on policies aimed 
at preventing carbon leakage and protecting competitiveness, including on border measures.
Overall, the report highlights that there is scope under WTO rules 
for addressing climate change at the national level. However, the relevance of WTO rules to climate change mitigation policies, as well as the implications for trade and the environmental eff ectiveness of these measures, will very much depend on 
how these policies are designed and the specifi  c conditions for 
implementing them.
END
WTO
Anoush der Boghossian, WTO Press offi   cer 
Information and External Relations Division Tel: +41 22 739 50 75Mobile: +41 78 785 67 50 Fax: +41 22 739 54 58 E-mail: anoush.derboghossian@wto.orgUNEP
Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson
Offi  ce of the Executive Director 
Tel: +254 20 762 3084 
Mobile: +254 733 632 755 or when traveling +41 795 965 737 
E-mail: nick.nuttall@unep.org
or
Jay Dowle, Communications Offi   cer
UNEP Green Economy Initiative & UNEP Finance Initiative
Tel: +41 22 917 8691
Mobile: +41 76 586 3628
E-mail: jay.dowle@unep.ch